Engine starter



June 3,1930, P LANSING v 1,760,874

ENGINE STARTER Original Filed Dec; 4, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet l ,Mr Mam. I

June 3, 1930. R. P. LANSING 1,760,874

\ ENGINE STARTER Original Filed Dec. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Whiz 655 SING ENGINE STARTER June 1930,

Original Filed Dec. 4, 1925 5 Sheets-s 5 R. P. LANSING June 3, 1930.

ENGINE STARTER Original Filed Dec. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 wwwmwmm Q N% W mu R. P. LANSING ENGINE STARTER June 3, 1930.

ori inal Filed Dec. 4. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 AW V Jaw

Patented June a, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE RAYMOND P. LANSING, OF MON'TCLAIR, JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO ECLIPSE MACHINE COMPANY, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK, A. CORPORATION-OF NEW 'YOB'K ENGINE STARTER Application filed December 4, 1925, Serial No. 73,196. Renewed August 13, 1929.

My invention relates to engine starting apparatus for the starting of engines such as internal combustion engines and more particularly, but not necessarily, airplane englnes, and the object thereof is to providea simple, efficient and reliable apparatus for either manual or power operation or both and characterized by the provision of inertia means which are actuated by the power means such as an electric motor, or by -manual means for the accumulation and storing of'energy which is thereupon utilized by the application thereof to the engine for cranking the same, and further characterized by the provision of means for lifting the brushes from the commutator of the motor to eliminate the load thereof particularly when the inertia means which in the present instance is embodied in the motor armature itself is operated by the manual means and also whenever the starting apparatus is operatively connected with a member of the engine to be started. It is of advantage to thus eliminate the load occasioned by the pressure-of the brushes upon the commutator in view of the fact that such load is multiplied many times through the reduction gearing employed in the apparatus, so that in hand cranking the motor including the inertia means embodied therein the resistance or load of the brushes is eliminated, and when the starting apparatus is operatively connected withthe engine member the full energy developedand stored in'the inertia means is capable of utilization and none of it is lost in brush load.

My apparatus is fltrther characterized by the provision of single operating means for conjointly operating the brush lift means and also the clutch whereby the apparatus is operatively connected with the engine member. In the present instance the inertia means are incorporatedv in the motor itself but it will be understood that this is not essential in so far as the broad aspect of my invention is concerned and that such inertia means may be provided and arranged as a part or element separate from the motor.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical section of; my apparatus taken on an irregular line, the manual means being in fact positioned at principal right angles to the position herein illustrated; Fig. 2 a view enlarged as compared with Fig. 1 and showing the electricmotor; Figs. 3 and 4 wiring diagrams illustrating the on and off positions respectively of the brushes on the commutator; 55 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 a section similar to Fig. 5 but showing the brushes in off position;

Fig. 5 a section on the line Fig. 7 a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating conjoint operation of the brush lift means and the clutch operating means of the drive by a single operating means; Fig. 8 a section on the line 88'of Fig.7 Figs. 9, 10 and 11 diagrammatic views illustrating different positions of said single. operating means, brush lift and clutch and its operating means.

Referring "to the particular embodiment of my invention as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 the drive or transmission includes the drive proper and reduction gearing. First descri ing the drive proper the same is located within the main casing 1 which is suitably supported as by being detachably connected with the crank case 2 of the engine, a small portion of which is illustrated, Within a bushing 3 in the casing there rotates a drivin; barrel 4 and a shell 5 concentrically ar-.

ranged therewithin and providing a considerable annular'space between them to receive a yieldable driving connection which is here in the form of a friction clutch 6. This clutch is composed of two sets of clutch plates or disks which are splined respectively to the interior of the barrel and the exterior of the shell. The proper pressure for the disks is provided by a series of springs 7. located in such annular space and such pressure is regulated by the adjustable nut 8 screwing onto the outer end of the shell. 'The thrust of these springs tends to force the shell outwardly whereby the ring 9 clamps the disks together shaft 13 which constitutes themain or body portion of the driving member whose other ortion is a clutch member 14 which is a aptedto engage a member of the .shell 5 and which has internal longitudinal splines and grooves 20 cooperat'ing with corresponding splines and grooves 21 on the outer end portion of the exterior of the screw shaft 13, whereby the clutch element 14 and the screw shaft 13 have a relative longitudinal movement of limited degree independent of each other. The clutch element 14 is held in its outward position with a yielding pressurein suitable manner as by means of a coiled spring 22 which bears at its outer end against the bottom of the sleeve 19 and at its inner end against the bottom of a socket formed in the outer end of the screw shaft. The outward movement of the clutch element 14 is limited by the head of a rod 23 which passes centrally through the driving member parts and centrally through the main supporting shaft 24 of the reduction gearing, such rod being a manually operated rod terminating in a handle 25 at a point exterior of the apparatus and in the present instance being located adjacent the exterior of the casing of the manually operated means. In the present instance, for assembly purposes, this rod is made in two sections screwing together intermediate the length of the rod and provided at the point of juncture with a flange 26 bearing against the inner end of the screw shaft in order to limit the movement of the rod to the left with respect to the screw shaft, Fig. 1. The inner end of the screw shaft is provided with two nuts 27 the one nearest the end of the screw shaft being a lock nut and the other providin an abutment for the outward movement of the screw shaft against the internal shoulder 28 within the shell 5.

Next referring to the reduction gearing the sameis contained within the main casing 1 and the cover plate 1" by which such gearing is supported and in which it has its bear-,v

ngs. .A main stationary internal gear 29 1s secured by screws 30 to the casing 1 and with the same meshes a series of three planeta ry gears 31 which are journaled between two parallel plates 32 and 33. These plates are spaced apart by suitable lugs 34 on adjacent faces of these two plates and the same arefheld together by screws 35. The inner plate 33 is connected with the driving barrel 4'in suitable-manner and in the present instance the same is splined to the inner end thereof through the splines 36 and grooves 37 cooperating with corresponding splines 'andgroover on the outer face of the plate 33. This plate 33 has a hub provided with longitudinal grooves adapted to receive the oppositely extending projections or pins 38 at the left hand end of the shaft 24 (Fig. 1)

freely upon the shaft 46 through the medium of a bushing 47.

The right hand end of the shaft 24 (Fig. 1) is journaled in bearings 48 in the casing plate 1 and extends therethrough and to such projecting end a beveled pinion 49 is secured. This pinion forms a part of the manual means and the same extends into a small casing 50 secured by screws 51 to the casing plate 1. In addition to this pinion 49 the manual means consists of a cranking shaft 52 extending extraneous of the casing 50 and thereat provided with suitable means as the pins 53 for engagement with an ordinary hand crank. This cranking shaft 52 is journaled in ball bearings 54 within the casing 50 and the same is held in proper position longitudinally by the nut 55 and collar 56. The shaft 52 is provided at its inner end with a beveled pinion 57 meshing with the corresponding pmion 49.

The here combined motor and inertia means comprises a frame 58 mounted upon and detachably secured to the casing 1 in suitable manner as by the bolts 59, and closed by a cover plate 60, fields 61 within the frame and an armature 62 having a shaft 63 provided at its lower end either separately or integrally with a beveled pinion 64 meshing with the beveled gear 45. -The armature 62 is flattened in a horizontal direction and its considerable size and weight in such formation constitutes an inertia means or device for the purposes of my starting apparatus. The frame 58 is provided with bearings 65 for the lower end of the armature shaft and the cover 60 is provided with suitable bearings 66 for the upper end thereof. Within this cover are arranged the brushes 67 which are here four in number and adapted to cooperate with and bear upon the commutator '68. In thepresent instance the rigging of each brush is of special construction in order that the same may be simultaneously withdrawn from or applied to the commutator at the will of the operator. Each brush'67 slides in a guide bore of a tube 72 terminating in a shell '73. This tube 72 extends through a central opening in the bottom of the cup 70 and has a marginal flange 74 adapted to engage the inner face of the bottom of such cup. A spring 75 in the bore of the tube 72 hearing against the pin 71 holds the parts in their normal extended posltion. The shell 73 slides within asecond cup 7 6 between the bottom of which and the shell 73 is a coil spring 77 tending to hold such parts extended. The shell 73 is prov1ded on its outer end with a pair of lugs 78 between which is mounted a roller 79.. All four brush assemblies are mounted upon the side wall of the cover 60 the cup 76 being secured: directly thereto and such side wall being cut away to provide openings to receive the four cups 76, wherefore the'rollers 79'are adapted to be projected beyond the outer surface of the side wall. A ring 80 fits said outer wall at points adjacent the four rollers 79 andthe same is adapted to oscillate or be slipped cir 'cumferentially at the will of the operator in .order to present to such rollers either its full or complete inner face or the recesses or grooves 81. When the full inner surface thereof is presented to the roller 79 as in Fig.

5 the brushes are then pressed upon the oommutator-but when the slip ring is oscillated to bring its recesses 81 in register with the rollers 79 the brushes will be withdrawn from the commutator by reason of the. pressure of the springs 77 which always tend to withdraw the brushes from the commutator but whichare prevented from doing so by the inward pressure on the rollers 79 by the ring '80.

Any suitable manually operating means may be applied to the 'ring 80 and in the present instance such means consists of a projection 82 and a rod 83.

In Figs. 3 and 4 are shown wiring diagrams of the electrical connections and illustrating the on and off positions of the brushes. In these diagrams the motor is represented at M, the fields at F, the starting switch at S, the battery at B, the grounds in the usual conventional manner and the "battery charging. generator at G, such generator which is as usual driven by the engine for charging-the battery not bein otherwise'shownr According to Fig. 3the rushes67 are in positionon the commutator and according to Fig. 4 they are withdrawn therefrom.

Describing a cycleof operation of the starting apparatus and beginning with the utilization of the electric motor as the source of energy and with the parts in their normal position as shown in Fig. 1, when the motor is energized by the closing of the starting switch the armature and its shaft 63 will be rapidly rotated and the driving member including the clutch element 14 will be rotated through the actuating means including the.

reduction gearing and the transmission driving member. The armatu're being so constructed and arranged as to act as an inertia means energy will be stored up in the now rapidly rotating armature and when its R. P. M. reaches a predetermined figure such as in practice from 15,000 to 20,000 the current may if desired be switched oil from the electric motor and thereupon the rod 23 is manually moved inwardl'y, that is to the left in Fig. 1,and the screw shaft and its clutch element 14 are moved longitudinally and such element is thereby advanced and brought into engagement with the other clutch element 15 and the engine is thereby cranked in view of the fact that the clutch element 14 is being rotated through the drive or transmission by means of the armature and such rotation will continue so long as there is sufficient energy left in the armature for that purpose. Before or simultaneously with the operation of the rod 23 the brush lift means may be operated in order to remove from the motor the load or resistance of the brushes so that when the drive is brought into operative engagement with the engine member the energy thus stored up in the armature may be utilized to its full extent. n

When the engine starts on its own power the excess speed of-rotation of the engine and its clutch element 15 ,will cause the screw shaft and its element 14 to be retracted by the screw actionbetween thescreW shaft and its nut 5 and thereby become disengaged from theengine in automatic manner.

Next describing the manual means as the source of energy, a hand crank is applied to the cranking shaft 52 and rotated by the operator with the result that through the reduction gearing the armature of the motor will be rapidly rotated and such cranking continues until the desired or predetermined.

R. P. M.'of the armature is reached. In this manual operation the torque is transmitted from shaft 52 through pinions 57 and 49 to shaft 24 and thence through the frame of the planetary pinions 31 and the reduction gearing including gear 45 and thence to the armature through its shaft 63. In this manually speeding up of the motor and'consequently of the inertia means the brush lift the construction abbve described representstwo separate manual movements of the operator but if desired such rods may be convenmeans are first operated to withdraw the iently and advantageously controlled and operated by a single Operating means such as illustrated in Figs. 7 to 11, it being understood that such operating means shown in Fig. 7 is on an enlarged scale as compared with the remainder of the figure for the puris the same as in Fig. 1 with the exception that the operating rod 23 is operated somewhat differently as by means of a yoke 84 operatively connected with the outer or right hand end thereof and secured to a rock shaft 85 journaled in the casing 50 and having a crank arm 86 to which is pivotally connected a rod 87. The single operating means comprises a hand operated rod or plunger 88 terminating at its outer end in a handle 89 and extending through a suitable support'90 and into a casing 91. The inner end of the plunger carries a laterally extending pin 92 which is received in the right angle slot 98 of a depending lever 94 pivoted in the casing at 95. Thdoperating rod 83 of the brush lift means is enlarged at its lower end and thereat provided with a longitudinal slot 96 in which slides a bearing 97 and which receives at its lower end a stud 98 projecting laterally of the lever 94. spring 99 in the slot 96 holds the bearing 97 pressed against the'pin 98 with a yielding pressure. A second lever 100 is pivoted at 1,01 within the casing 91 and its curved upper end is adapted to cooperate with a stud 102 projecting from the rod 83 immediately above its slot 96. .One'wall of the casing 91 is provided with a bearing 103 within which slides a rod 104 pivotally connected to the rod 87.

I will now describe the operation of the single" operating means and its connected rods. The normal position of the parts is illustrated in Figs. 7 and 9 according to which the brushes are withdrawn or lifted from the commutator, the clutch elements 14 and 15 are disengaged and the starting switch is open. When the operator moves the plunger 88 inwardly, that is toward the left in Figs.

7 and 9, the lever 94 will be moved from its obliqueposition shown in full lines in Fig. 7 to its vertical position shown in dotted lines. The tension of the spring 96 is such that this oscillation of the lever 94 will move the rod 83 to the left and thereby move the brushes into engagement with the'commutator. This is the positionof'the parts'diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 10. If the electric motor is to be the source of energy for the starting apparatus the starting switch is now closed and the starting operation carried through in the manner herein'before explained, which operation includes the further movement of the plunger 88 whereupon the pin 92 will move in the horizontal portion of the slot 93 and the lever 94 will remain in its vertical position and in such further movement of the plunger 88 the latter will contact and force outwardly the rod 104 and thereby move the rod 87 to the left and cause the rod 23 to be likewise moved to the left for engagement of the clutch members 14 and 15 in the manner hereinbefore explained. This further movement of the plunger 88 causes the rocking of the lever 100 by reason of the contact of its pin 92 with the lower end of such lever whereupon its curved upper end will engage the pin 102 and shift the rod 83 to the right thereby lifting the brushes from the commutator. The parts now assume the position shown diagrammatically in Fig, 11. Promptly the operator may completely withdraw plunger 88 by a single movement, which leaves rod 87 in Fig. 11 position but restores rod 83 and associated parts to Fig. 9 position. When the engine begins to operate under its own power the automatic retraction of driving member 14 acts through rod 23 to restore rod 87 to Fig. 9 position.

Thus when the electric motor is used as the source of power the plunger 88 is given a two stage movement but in the event that the manual means is the source of power there will be only one stage, that is one complete movement of the plunger 88. In this case the operator cranks the motor through the manual means with the parts in their normal po sition shown in Figs. 7 and 9 at which time the clutch elements 14 and 15 are disengaged and the brushes are already lifted, such be-' ing the normal position of the parts. Then when the desired R. P. M. of the armature is reached the operator by one movement will thrust the plunger 88 inwardly to full extent and the result will be that illustrated in Fig. 11 according to which the clutch elements 14 and 15 are engaged and the brushes are lifted from the commutator.

Thereby the brush load is eliminated when the operator employs the manual means and also when the stored up energy ofthe armature is utilized for the engine cranking operat-ion.

I claim: 7

' 1. An engine starting apparatus including a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, actuating means operatively connected therewith including an electric motor and its brushes, mechanical means for accelerating the rotor of'said motor as an inertia means,

and means for eliminating the brush load 'a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, actuating means operatively connected therewith including an electric motor and its brushes, mechanical ,means for. accelerating the rotor of said motor as an inertia means,

and manually operated means for eliminating the brush load during such acceleration of the motor as an inertia. means.

- 3. An engine starting apparatus including a'driving member adapted to engageand crank a member of the engine to be started, actuating means operatively connected therewith including an electric motor and its brushes, manual means operatively connected a i with the actuating means to actuate the rotor of said motor as an inertia means, and means for eliminating the brush load in the manbrushes, manual ed with the actuatmg means and adapted to rotate-said motor so as to act as an inertia 3 means, and means for lifting the brushes at commutator, and a device controlling the radial movements of said members.

8. An engine-starting apparatus includin a driving member adapted to engage an crank a member of the engine to be started,

actuating means operatively connected therewith including. an electric motor and its brushes, and means for eliminating the brush load comprising radially movable members in which such brushes are mounted and a ro-' tatable ring whose movements in one direction or the other determine the radial position of said members and their brushes;

9. An engine starting ap aratus includingv a driving member adapte .to engage and crank a member oftlieengine to be started, actuating means operatively connected therewith including an electric motor and its brushes, and means for eliminating the brush load comprising radially movable members in which such brushes are mounted, said members havingprojections, and a rotatable ring having onits inner face a series of recesses one for eabh brush adapted to cooperate with the will of the operator to eliminate the-brush" d p j y f determining radial position of sald members and the1r brushes.

load in-the manual operation of the motor.

5. An engine starting apparatus including adriving member adapted to engageand I crank a member of the engine to be started,

actuating means operatively connected therewith including an electric motor and .its brushes mechanical means for accelerating the rotor of said motor as an inertia means,

and means for eliminating the brush load during the acceleration of the motor as an inertia means, comprising radially mdvable members in which such brushes are mounted and a device'forcontrolling ments of such members.

.6. An engine startin apparatus including a driving member a apted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, actuating means'operatively connected therewith including an electric motor and its ;the motor as'an inertia means, and means for brushes mechanical means for' accelerating eliminating'thebrush load during such acceleration comprising radially movable memactuating means operatively connected bers in which such brushes are mounted and which normally hold the brushes lifted from the commutator, and a device acting on said brushes against the commutator.

7 An engine starting apparatus including a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be'started, ere

withincluding'an electric motor an its brushes, mechanical means for accelerating the motor as an inertia means, and means for eliminating the brush load during such acceleration comprising radially movable members in which such" brushes are mounted, springs for normally holding said members outwardly and the brushes lifted from" the the radial movea I outwardlyand the brush lifted, a'nd 10. An engine starting apparatus including a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, actuating means operatively connected therewith including an electric motor and its brushes, and means for eliminating the brush load comprising, with respect toeach brush, a cup to which the brush is secured and which is mounted to reci rocate radially, and a de- ..vice' for determining the radial position of said cup.

11. An engine starting apparatus including'a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, actuating means operatively connected therewith. including an electric motor and its brushes, and means for eliminating the brush load comprising with respect to each brush, a

cup to which the brush is secured and which is mounted to reciprocate radially, yielding means tending to hold the cup radially-outwardly and the brush lifted from the commutator, and a device for moving said 011 and brush inwardly against the pressure 0 said yielding means.

12. An engine starting apparatus including a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, actuating means operativelyconnected there with including an electric motor and "its lot brushes, and means for eliminating the brush load comprising, with respect to each brush, a cup to which the brush is secured and which is mounted to reciprocate radially, a second cup which iscmounted stationarily, a. m'ov'' able tube connecting betw een the two cups,

and a springbetween the tube and se nd cup.

" tending to hold such tube' and the. rst cup a device for moving said tube inwardly against the pressure of said spring.

13. An engine starting apparatus including a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, actuating means operatively connected therewith including an electric motor and its brushes, and means for eliminating the brush load comprising, with respect to each .brush, a cup to which the brush is secured and which is mounted to reciprocate radially, a second cup which is mounted stationarily, a movable tube connecting between the'two cups, and a spring between the tube and second cup tending'to hold such tube and the first cup outwardly and the brush lifted, a projection on the outer end of said tube, and a rotatable ring whose movement in one direction or the other determines the radial position of said tube and first cup.

14. An engine starting apparatus including a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started,

actuating means operatively connected there with including an electric motor and its brushes, and means for eliminating the brush load comprising, with respect to each brush,

a cup to which the brush is secured and which is mounted to reciprocate radially, a second cup which is mounted stationari'ly, a movable tube connecting between the two cups, and a spring between the tube and second cup tending to hold such tube and the first cup outwardly and the .brush lifted, a roller on the outer end of said tube, and a rotatable ring having on its inner face a series of recesses one for each brush adapted to cooperate with said roller for determining the radial position of said members and their brushes.

15. An engine starting apparatus including a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started but normally disengaged therefrom, actuatmg means operatively connected therewith including an electric motor and its brushes, means for rotating the motor when its brushes are lifted to cause it to act as an inertia means, means for lifting the brushes from the commutator, means for causing engagement of the driving member and the engine member, and a single operating device for actuating said two latter means.

16. An engine starting apparatus including a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started but normally disengaged therefrom, actuating means operatively connected therewith including an electric motor and its brushes, means for rotating the motor when its brushes are lifted to cause it to'act as an inertia means, means for lifting-the brushes from the commutator, means for causing engagement of the driving member and the engine member and a single operating device for actuating said two latter means, successively, first the brush lift means to cause the brushes to contact the commutator and then the other means to shift the driving member from its normally disengaged position and cbause its engagement with the engine mem- 17. An engine starting apparatus including a driving member adapted to engage and crank' a member of the engine to be started but normally disengaged therefrom, actu ating means operatively connected therewith including an electricmotor and'its brushes, means for rotating the motor when its brushes are lifted to cause it to act as an inertia means, means for lifting the brushes from the commutator, means for causing engagement of the driving member and the engine member, and a single manually operated means for actuating both of said two latter means.

18. An engine starting apparatus including a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, actuating means operatively connected there with including an electric motor and its brushes. means for rotating the motor when its brushes are lifted to cause it to act as an inertia means, means for lifting the brushes from the commutator, means for causing engagement of the driving member and the engine member, and a single plunger for actuating both of said two latter means.

19. An engine starting apparatus including a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, actuating means operatively connected therewith including an electric motor and its brushes, means for rotating the motor when its brushes are lifted to cause it to act as an inertia means, means for lifting the brushes from the commutator, means for causing engagement of the driving member and the engine member, two separate rods operatively connected with said two latter means, and a single operating means for actuating said two rods.

20. An engine starting apparatus including a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, actuating means operatively connected therewith including an electric motor and its brushes, means for rotating the motor when its brushes are lifted to cause it to act as an inertia means, means for lifting the brushes from the commutator, means for causing engagement of the driving member and the engine member, and a single manually operated means for actuating both of said two latter means comprising a plunger acting directly upon said last named means, a lever acting directly upon the brush lift means and actuated by said plunger.

21. An engine starting apparatus including a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine tobe started, actuating means operatively connected therewith including 'an electric motor and its brushes, means for liftin the brushes from the commutator, means or causing engagement of the driving member and the engine member, and a single manually operated means for actuating both of said two latter means comprising a plunger, a rod operated thereby and operatively connected with the last named means, a lever having a slot, said plunger having a projection received by said slot and said-lever having .a

.. projection, and a rod operatively connected with the brush lift means and having a slot receiving the projection on the lever.

22. An engine starting apparatus includ-' ing a driving member adapted to engage and crank a member of the engine to be started, actuating means operatively connected.

therewith including an electric motor and its brushes, means for lifting the brushes from p the commutator, means for causing engagethe latter slot tending to hold its ment of the driving member and the engine member, and a single manually operated means for actuating both of said twolatter means, comprisinga plunger, a rod operated thereby and operatively connected-with the'last named means, a lever having a slot,-

\ therewith including an electric motor and its brushes, means for lifting the brushes from the commutator, means for causing engage--- ment of the driving member and the engine member, and a single manually operated means for actuating both of said two latter means comprising a plunger, a rod operated'thereby and operatively connected with the last named means,"a lever having a slot,

said plunger having a projection-received by said slot and said lever having aprojpction, a rod operatively connected with the brush lift means and with said lever, and a second lever actuated by the plunger and adapted to engage and move the rod of the brush lift means in a direction to cause the brushes to be lifted.

24. "An enginestarting apparatus including a driving member adapted to engage and-"cra ik a member of the engine to- .be started, actuating means operatively connected therewith including an electric motor and it's brushes, means for lifting the brushes from ;the commutator, means for causing engagement of the driving member and the engine member, and a single manually operated means for actuating both of said two latter means comprisinga plunger, a rod operated thereby and operatively connected with the last named means, a lever having a slot, said plunger having aprojection received by said slot which is of such shape that the first movement of the plunger oscillates the lever while during the remainder of its movement such projection moves idly in its slot and. without effect upon the lever, and a rod operatively connected with the brush lift means and with said lever. 1

25. An engine starting apparatus including, a driving member movable to engage and rotatable to crank a member of the engine to. be started,- means for moving said driving member into such engagement, means for returning said driving member automatically to disengaged position when the engine operates under its own power, actuating means for rotating said driving member including an electric motor adapted to be rotated as an inertia means and having brushes to be then lifted, manual means for so rotating the motor, means for lifting the motor-brushes including with respect to each brush a radiallyreciprocablebrush-carrying cup and means yieldinglypressing same outwardly, said cup having a projection on its outer end, a ring having. recesses for coaction with said prov jections and being circularly shiftable and arranged to receive the lifted brushes in said recesses when in normal position and depress said brushes when in shifted position, and

, combined control means for said driver-moveither direction, said connections including a rod connected with said ring and two levers operatively associated with said rod and said plunger, one said lever controlling ringshiftmgmovement of said rod and the coaction of the plunger with the other lever, and the other said lever controlling return movement of said rod. i

26. An engine starting apparatus includwith said movlng ing a driving member shiftable to engage, ro-

tatable to crank and automatically returnable to disengage a member of an engine to be started,- inanual means operatively associated therewith and movabletoan extreme position to shift said driving member to engaging positionand returnable to normal position to free said driving member for automatic return, actuating means for said driving member including an electric motor and its brushes, mechanical means for accelerating said motor as an inertia means, and brushlifting means for eliminating the brush lead,

operatively associated with said' manual means to lift, lower and lift said brushes When said manual means is in respectively normal, intermediate and extreme positions.

27. In a starter for cranking internal combustion engines a member adapted to be moved into driving engagement with a memher of the engine to be started, an electric motor having brushes and a rotor, said rotor constituting an inertia member in which energy for cranking the engine is adapted to be stored, said inertia member being disconnected from the engine during the storage of energy therein and during the normal operation of said engine, means for moving said brushes out of operative relation with said motor, and reduction means for drivably connecting said inertia member and engine engaging member.

28. In a starter for cranking internal combustion engines, an electric motor having brushes and a rotor constituting an inertia element in which energy is adapted to be stored for cranking the engine, the energization of said motor being efiiective to store energy in the inertia element, a member adapted to be moved into driving engagement with a member of the engine to be cranked after energy has been stored in the inertia element, means including reduction gearing for drivably connecting the inertia element and the engine engaging member, means for moving the motor brushes to nonoperative position whereby the brush load is eleminated, and means for moving said brushes into operative position.

29. In a starter for cranking internal combustion engines a member adapted to be moved into driving engagement with a member of the engine to be cranked, an electric motor having a field structure, an armature structure, and brushes, one of said structures constituting a rotatable inertia member in which energy is adapted to be stored for cranking the engine, said inertia member being disconnected from the engine during the storage of energy therein and during the normal operation of the engine, means for moving said brushes out of operative engagement with said motor, and reduction means for drivably connecting the inertia member and engine engaging member. v

30. In a starter for cranking internal oombustion engines, a member adapted to be moved into driving engagement with a member of the engine to be cranked, an electric motor having an armature structure, a field structure, and brushes, one of said structures constituting a rotatable inertia member in which energy for cranking the engine is adapted to be stored, means for moving said brushes out of operative engagement with said motor, and means including reduction gearing and yielding clutch means for drivably connecting the inertia member and err my name.

RAYMOND P. LANSING. 

